Mailbag: The Instinct Edition

	Posted Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Noah Kravitz
	Views: 96103	Feed me Share this article

So many questions about Instinct! Here's a first crack at answering some of them, sent via YouTube and here on the site. Make sure to check out my blogs and videos for more on Instinct, as well.

what to buy
bulltex95 asks

Would you recommend the HTC Mogul or the samsung instinct for internet on the go.?

Noah from PhoneDog answers:
Tough call. I think right now the Mogul is more flexible b/c it's Windows Mobile so you can install Opera Mobile or Opera Mini, which are both great browsers. Instinct's browser is somewhere between okay and pretty good, but it needs some work. Hopefully Samsung and Sprint can upgrade it via a firmware update in the next few months.

The flip side, though, is that Instinct is sleeker and easier to use overall than Mogul. WindowsMobile can be a pain in the neck, whereas Instinct is pretty easy to use. Instinct's touchscreen is also bigger and easier to use than Mogul's.

Honestly, try to get to a store to check out Mogul in person to see if you like Windows Mobile or not. If you don't mind it, or if you like tinkering with stuff, you can install all kinds of Browsers, RSS Readers, and other Web apps on it.

***

jerryrawlings3 asks:

samsung instinct
Hey.

Great vidz by the way....

Im getting the phone when it comes out, one reason for satelite radio (sirius), will I be able to listen to it live since it has full internet, please let me know, its almost a make or break senario.

Thanks

Jerry

Noah from PhoneDog answers:
Hey Jerry,

Instinct has a Radio app, and it includes some Sirius content, but not as much as a dedicated Sirius radio receiver. You can see it in my "Instinct Multimedia Part 2" video review.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
nk

***
mileymcgee asks:
do you like the samsung instinct or the blackberry curve?
I wanted to ask you do you what phone is the best the samsung instinct or the blackberry curve?

Noah from PhoneDog answers:

It depends what you want the phone for. Curve is a great smartphone - great keyboard for messaging, pretty decent music and video players, and the best Email system in the business. Instinct has a bigger screen and its a touchscreen, and it does more media stuff - live TV, streaming music, that kind of thing. Also, Instinct's menus are cooler looking. But Instinct doesn't have a keyboard, so it's harder to type on.

If you do a lot of Email on your phone, Curve is the way to go. If you want something that looks nicer and has a few more media features - and a big touchscreen - you might like Instinct more

***

inamaj91 asks:

How...

Dude how do you get your job, I'm such a phone freak and you have my dream job. Do you know anything I could do to get a job like yours.

Noah from PhoneDog answers:

Learn how to write as well as you can! Seriously, even though I do lots of stuff on YouTube now, I started out writing and still write reviews and a blog on PhoneDog. Also, I Email all of the time with the other people at PhoneDog and with my contacts at all of the phone companies. So being able to write well is really important - both for posting articles and for communicating with people.

Beyond that, find a Web site to work for or start your own. Once you build a name for yourself, you might start to make a little money or get the attention of larger sites (to hire you) or phone companies (to send you review samples).

I wrote for a bunch of tiny little papers and magazines for years, and wrote for a few other Web sites before I got this job with PhoneDog. I also have done other jobs, including teaching school and working as a software consultant. But I always was writing and covering technology on the side. It takes time, but if you like doing it, you'll stick with it and it'll pay off. Good luck!

***

tuberonthego asks:

Hey love the video's on the Instinct it looks like a great phone and thanks for getting those videos up so fast. My question for you is about the internet I know that it is faster than the Iphone this week. But what is the quality like is as full of a version as the Iphone or does it use a lot of the mobile sights. This kind of thing is a big thing that no one talks about. Who wants a fast phone if you can't go to your favorite sights.
Thanks for all the info so far, Chris

Noah from PhoneDog answers:
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the message!

I kind of hate to say this because I want Instinct to do well - competition is good for the industry, and the more great phones the better for users, right? But iPhone's Web browser blows Instinct out of the water. Honestly, it's not even close. Hopefully Sprint will upgrade the Instinct's browser soon, but right now it's "above average" for a cell phone, while iPhone is "amazing."

iPhone's browser has much better support for things like JavaScript and AJAX, which means you can get to the full versions of many, many more sites. Instinct is supposed to support JavaScript, but it doesn't work nearly as well as iPhone. Instinct gets you to more sites than the average phone, for sure - it's definitely not bad. But compared to iPhone? No contest. Sorry, Sprint.

***
Famousiscool asks:
Iphone and Instinct (:
When I had AT&T i got the Iphone, but the screen cracked all the way thanks to my friends, and had to replace it twice. I switched over to Sprint and got the Blackberry, but i want a new phone. Will the Instinct's glass be easily breakable like the Iphone? I am very interested in it, but I need to know that first. Thank You!

Noah from PhoneDog answers:
Famous,
What'd your friends do to your iPhone? iPhone's glass screen is the toughest screen I've seen on any phone.

Instinct's screen is plastic, so I don't think it'll be quite as durable as iPhone. Then again, it shouldn't crack - but it might get scratched.

Tell your friends to lay off, huh? Good luck!

All about: Noah Answers Questions, Samsung Instinct-M800, Sprint PCS

Follow me on twitter

Noah Kravitz - Editor in Chief, PhoneDog Media

Noah Kravitz is the Editor in Chief of PhoneDog.com. He’s also one whale of a drummer. And he’ll talk your ear off. Seriously.

Comments on this Article

36FEEC53263643B38866 @ Jun 19, 08 10:21 PM

Reply to this comment

User (174491) @ Jun 18, 08 11:04 PM

Hey Noah thankz for all the vids.. Did you find any reason why the pics you sideloaded into the memory card worked so slow when you pulled them up in the picture app. and is it true that it has no im's and will operamini work on this device? thankz

Reply to this comment

Noah Kravitz @ Jun 17, 08 9:27 PM

@Will Smith: Of the three you mentioned, the big difference is that Voyager also has a QWERTY board and internal display. So the form factor is quite different. Also, Vu has the smallest touchscreen of the bunch. Features-wise, Voyager and Instinct do a few more things than Vu, but it's pretty close. Personally I think that Instinct has the best touchscreen of all three - a little more responsive and easier to use than the other two. Also, Instinct has a regular headphone jack but the others don't (which I like). But you're right, they all more or less do the same things. I'm actually getting a loaner of Voyager so I can do some comparison videos. Look for them sometime next week. @paul barnes: Instinct's GPS is very good. It talks to you but no, it doesn't listen to your voice directions in the same way that a high-end stand alone GPS unit does. @ Daniel, Burton, and Tom: Instinct's calendar and other scheduling/information management tools are good but basic. Instinct can wirelessly back up your contacts via Sprint, but it won't sync calendars or contacts with a PC or Mac - at least not right now. For businesspeople and others who need calendar syncing and other office-type tools, Instinct probably isn't the way to go.

Reply to this comment

Noah Kravitz @ Jun 17, 08 9:21 PM

@David Ramsey: While it's fun to be the first on the block with a new gadget, I always think it's to your advantage to wait a bit after something new comes out. Get your hands on the actual device in a store, wait to see what bugs get reported, give Sprint a chance to work those bugs out - that kind of thing. Feature-wise, basically the new HTC devices will be full-on Windows Mobile smartphones, so you kind of know what you're getting. The big unknown is how you'll like the feel of the hardware and user interface. @Pheonix Hilden: I asked Sprint and they said "To Be Determined." Sorry. @ Mark J and cristian RUIZ: A lot of "which network is better?" depends on where you live and work. In my office all of the networks work really well, but in my house AT&T is spotty. Where my parents live, Verizon and AT&T are great but the others aren't so good. So you have to consider that. On a larger scale, Sprint's EV-DO Rev A network will theoretically be faster than AT&T's HSDPA network when it comes to data speeds for Web surfing - but again, it depends on where you are and other factors. Personally, I'd give Sprint the edge in terms of signal strength and call quality where I live and work. I've heard their customer service isn't so great, but I can't speak to that first hand. Their PR people are really nice, anyway.

Reply to this comment

User (174150) @ Jun 17, 08 11:11 AM

i have a ic902 right now and want to switch to sprint completly. i do not use the walkie talkie anymore. i have been anticipating the instinct since i first heard about it but after watching your videos i am having some second thoughts. especially when htc is coming with two new touch screens this year for sprint this fall. the rapaheal and the diamond. do you think it would be to my advantage to wait to see how the instincts features work when it is finally released while anticipating the new htc phones or should i get it as i plan to on friday?

Reply to this comment

User (173898) @ Jun 15, 08 10:41 PM

hey im planing on gettin the instinct in july so i was wondering if u could find out if they r gonna make it in any other colors because i got the rumor when it 1st came out in black and blue then the green and sliver came and thats wat i wanted but couldnt change so i was just wondering if u could find out and tell me so then ill just wait and get the color i want plz and thank u ^_^

Reply to this comment

User (173858) @ Jun 15, 08 2:25 PM

What about the two service providers themselves? Sprint and ATT. I'm currently with Sprint. I have been since I was 18, I'm now 29. I've seen it go from bad, to pretty good, to great. I get a signal that a lot of my friends with Tmobile or ATT can't. Anyway I'm not enthusted about switching. Not only that but the different plans for the 2 phones.

Reply to this comment

craggie4ever @ Jun 15, 08 2:20 PM

Hey Buddy i just wanted to know your opinion on something Which one is better Sprint or AT&T?

Reply to this comment

omnious68 @ Jun 12, 08 7:18 PM

Hi, I was just wondering with all these new touchscreen phones coming out now which do you believe is the best, the lg voyager from verizon, the lg vu from at&t, or the samsung instinct from sprint. I really want to know becuase they all seem do the same thing and I am really confused.

Reply to this comment

User (173393) @ Jun 12, 08 5:37 PM

Main Question-- how does the gps work///- does it take verbal instructions like stand alone gps units? Does it give you audio instructions //turn left ?????????????

Reply to this comment

User (172779) @ Jun 11, 08 3:47 AM

Noah, Right now I have a PPC 6700 for sprint. I love the office programs on it right now but the phone just has so many software issues and it's a pretty old phone. I really like the instinct but I was wondering how the office programs like the calender,email, contacts are. I know you covered the email but can you talk about the calender if there is scheduling appointments. Also which would probably be the best hone for me the instinct or the moto q9c? (Keep in mind I am still in High School) Thanks for all you help and keep up the amazing videos!

Reply to this comment

User (173139) @ Jun 11, 08 12:00 AM

I would like to know more about the instincts calender. It seems there is quite a few people that are interested in what it will do exactly. Does it have its own sync calender program like palm?

Reply to this comment

36FEEC53263643B38866 @ Jun 10, 08 11:20 PM

Here's the burning question- Instinct or 3g iphone now that we know its specs? Sure you pay a few bucks eztra a month on ATT vs sprint's $70 plan with a little more, but you get superior hardware with iphone as well as the name recognition will be much better with Apple and ATT to avg Joe. What are your thoughts if it was new customer looking at both head to head?

Reply to this comment